Pelt stretching and drying device.



J. L. GIBSON.

PELT STRETCHING AND DRYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13 I915.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

JESSE Ii. enason, or CENTERVILLE, INDIANA. I

' first stretch the pelt over a. tapering board i of my invention willbe brought out in theor the like, but by that means it is impossible toattain the proper tension on the pelt and it is also difficult toaccomplish, and it also prevents the pelt from drying as rap idly as isdesirable.

Therefore the principalobject of my invention is to overcome the abovementioned objections and at the same time produce a device which willbelight in weight, strong and durable in construction, neat andattractive in appearance, easily operated and controlled, and which canbe manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a device, of thecharacter designated above, which is adjustable at both of its ends,permitting the device to be used with various size pelts; and alsohaving means for stretching the pelt longitudinally as well aslaterally.

Other objects and particular advantages course of the followingspecification, and that which is new will be correlated in the appendedclaim.

The preferred means for carrying out my invention in a practical manneris shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a'planview of my entire device alone. Fig. 2 shows my device in opera tiveposition, with a pelt stretched thereupon. Fig. 3 shows an elevation ofthe stretcher-bar alone. Fig. 4 shows an elevation of the spreader-bar,also showing the two fi ame arms therewith in cross section.

- Fig. 5 is a plan View of the upper end portions ,of the -two arms, theconnecting plate being removed. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of oneof the movable hooks. Fig. 7 is and edge view of the upper portion ofone of the main portions of the frame, showing the connecting plate. AndFig. 8 shows a." modified form for the main arms.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

rntrs'rnnronme AND DRYING DEVICE.

Patented J an. 25, 1916..

Application filed February 13,4915. Serial No. 7,933.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operat on, and the advantages of myinvention may be better understood and appreciated I will now take up adetailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the invention asfully and as comprehensively as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: Numerals 1 and 2 denote the twomain portions of the frame-arm's, whose upper portions curve inward,forming the converging members 1 and 2*, respectively. The outer edgesof the frame-arms are rounded or beveled, as indicated at a and b,respectively, in order to dispense with sharp edges.

- Formed in the end portions of the parts 1 and 2 are the respectivethreaded apertures 3 and 4, to receive screws.

Numeral 5 designates a triangular plate, with truncated corners, whichis adapted to contact with the faces of the end portions of themembers 1and 2 substantially as shown. Two lines of apertures, 6 and 7, areformed through said plate, each line of apertures being parallel withone of the side edges of the plate 5. A pair of screws, 8 and 9, areadapted to be inserted in either one of said apertures 6 and 7, and theninto their re spective apertures 3 and 4c, which manifestly will pivotthe upper ends of the arms, and

then by changing the screws to other of the apertures 6 and 7 the upperend of the arms may be adjusted laterally apart.

Numeral 10 denotes the spreading-bar, which has the two open slots 11and 12 therein, which open out at their ends. 1 The said slots 11 and 12are adapted to allow the armsl and 2 to operate therein, as shown inFig. 4. A lurality' of apertures, 13 and 14, are formed through theouter portions of the bar 10, which are at right angles to the slots 11and 12 and pass thereth'rough.

- Adapted to be inserted through the respective sets of apertures 13 and14 are the removable pins 15 and 16, which are adapted to hold thespreader-arm in place. Also formed along in the respective main portionsof the frame arms, are the apertures 17 and 18 which extendtherethrough, .and are adapted to receive the pins 15 and 16,respectively.

Numeral 19 denotes the stretcher-bar, which has in each. end portion theclosed end slots 20 and 21 in which may operate the mainportions of thearms 1 and 2. Secured in the center of the. bar 19, and extending upwardat right angles to said bar, is the stationary double hook 22. Located.on each side of the hook 22 and pivoted in the bar 19 are the twomovable double hooks 23 and 24. Each of the hooks 22, 23 and 24 isprovided with both a long and a short prong, and they are adapted toengage in the central portion of the tail-end of the pelt 25, which maybe carried by the device, as shown in Fig. 2. The bar 19 is adapted tobe drawn toward the bar 10, and then secured by the pins, 26 and 27against-which the upper edge of the bar engages, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

Modus operandz': From the above it will beseen that the upper end of thedevice may first be adjusted to the width of the pelt, as is indicatedat the upper ends of Figs. 1 and 2. The pelt may then be drawn over thedevice as in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the arms 1 and 2 may then bespread apart until the proper tension 1s obtained on the pelt, and thepins 15 and 16 may then be inserted in the proper apertures 13 and 14,and 17 and 18, respectively,

. which will hold the arms in lateral stretching position. The bar 19can then be moved up to the pelt and the hooks 22, 23 and 24 engagedtherewith, after which the bar 19 should be drawn toward the bar 10until thedesired longitudinal tension is obtained on the pelt, afterwhich the pins 26 and 27 are inserted in the proper apertures 17 and 18of the arms to hold the bar 19 in position,

as in Fig.2. By the above'it will beseen that I am able to attain bothlateral and longitudinal tension to stretch the pelt, and to hold thepelt in stretched position indefifnitely. Also by reason of the smallcontact of the device with the pelt, and holding the two the peltthereby hastening the drying process. If referred, the arms 1 and 2, to-

' gether with their upper portions 1 and 2,

may be made hollow, or curved, as shown by the cross section of the armA in Fig. 8, the curved portion or edge being outermost to engage thepelt.

I desire that it be understood that vari-,

parts of the pelt apart, I provide for the air to circulate between thetwo parts of 'my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States, is-

A pelt stretching and drying device, com prising in combination, a pairof arms having rounded outer edges and whose upper ends curve inwardlytoward each other and having threaded apertures formed through atriangular plate said end portions,

adapted to contact with the faces of said end portions of the arms,there being two lines of apertures formed through said plate, screwsadapted 'to be inserted in said apertures in the plate and secured insaid threaded apertures of the curved portions of the arms whereby thecurved portions of the arms are made adjustable with relation to eachother, a spreader-bar having two open slots therein opening out at theends and adapted to allow said arms to operate therein, there being aplurality of apertures formed through the outer portions of said bars,removable pins adapted to be inserted in said apertures in thespreader-bar to hold the spreader-bar in place, there also being aplurality of apertures formed in the arms .to receive said pins, astretcher-bar having slots in its ends in which may operate themainportions of the arms, a stationary double hook secured in the center ofthe stretcher-bar, movable hooks pivoted in the stretcher bar andlocated on each side of the double hook, and pins adapted to be insertedin apertures "in the arms to hold the stretcher-bar in adjustedposition, all substantially as shown and described. In testimony whereofI have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the,presence of two subscribing witnesses. JESSE L. GIBSON.- Witnesses:

RoB'r. IWJRANDLE, R. E. HANDLE.

